Potential realization system with electronic communication processing for conditional resource incrementation

ABSTRACT

Selected embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems and media for systematically processing electronic communications for conditionally incrementing resources. In certain embodiments, electronic communications are received and processed in order to evaluate potential realization assistance functions by potential realization assistants according to processes that include resource incrementations that are conditioned on satisfactory potential realization function processing. Other methods, systems and media are also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to electronic communicationsand is more particularly related to analysis of electroniccommunications.

BACKGROUND

Many types of entities, including artificial intelligence entities andothers types of entities, have untapped potentials, includingunderutilized capabilities and opportunities. In addition, thosepotentials are often of many different types and of diverse natures.Realizations of such potentials can often be difficult to implement orfacilitate. For example, many potentials are dormant or remainunnoticed, i.e., hidden, while others are complex and non-intuitive.Consequently, entities attempting to realize such potentials solelythrough internal processing are often met by failure. In addition,previous types of processing are often inadequate for thorough andeffective facilitation of complex potential realization needs.

Thus, heretofore unaddressed needs exist in the industry to address theaforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies, as well as address otherissues not mentioned above.

SUMMARY

Selected embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systemsand media for systematically processing electronic communications forconditionally incrementing resources. In certain embodiments, electroniccommunications are received and processed in order to evaluate potentialrealization assistance functions by potential realization assistantsaccording to processes that include resource incrementations that areconditioned on satisfactory potential realization function processing.

Other methods, features, devices, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, features, andadvantages be included within this description and be within the scopeof the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a high level block diagram representation of one embodiment,among others, of the present disclosure, of a generalized potentialrealization system.

FIG. 2 is a high level flow chart representation of a generalizedprocess for potential realization, in accordance with the generalizedembodiment show in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram representation of an exampleimplementation of one embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram representation of a general purpose computersystem with implementation specific program logic, in accordance withone embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a more detailed flow chart representation of a process of theexample implementation shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a partial screen shot of an electronic communication regardinga value facilitation task for a value facilitator, in accordance withone embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a partial screen shot of a web page displaying valuefacilitation status of an intellectual property asset, in accordancewith the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a partial screen shot of a web page displaying a potentialrealization assistance input screen, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustratingthe principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings,like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views. While several embodiments are described in general and inconnection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit thedisclosure to the example embodiments and implementations disclosedherein since the examples are intended to be considered among otherexamples that will be understood. On the contrary, the intent is to alsocover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

There are many types of untapped potentials and underutilizedcapabilities and opportunities in many different types of entities, allof which are intended to be with the scope of the present disclosure.Selected embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systemsand media for systematically processing electronic communications forconditionally incrementing resources. In certain embodiments, electroniccommunications are received and processed in order to evaluate potentialrealization assistance functions by potential realization assistantsaccording to processes that include resource incrementations that areconditioned on satisfactory potential realization function processing.Furthermore, certain embodiments include intelligent processes forassigning assistants based upon workload balancing and subject matterfactors, and certain embodiments include a plurality of stages ofpotential realization activities for each potential. In one example,among others, a business entity, such as a corporation, has untappedpotentials and unrealized value in the form of intellectual propertyassets that are underutilized. In accordance with one implementation ofthat example with regard to patent assets, a system is provided forcommunicating with inventors to manage and reward (i.e., incrementresources for) their activities that qualify as validated valuefacilitation activities, or potential realization functions. Someembodiments are completely automated, while others include varyinglevels of human involvement.

The effectiveness of any intellectual property legal system in anycountry in the world is dependent in some part on the ability of allintellectual property owners in that system to establish and obtainvalue from their valid intellectual property rights. While legal systemsoften provide adequate protection environments, many intellectualproperty owners are unable to benefit from such environments to preventinfringement of their intellectual property rights in order to receivevalue from those intellectual property rights. While some instances ofintellectual property infringement are readily apparent, others cancontinue for years without being detected. The consequential financiallosses to those intellectual property owners can be staggering. Inaddition, the overall intellectual property system itself is alsodamaged by such ongoing infringements since, as mentioned above, theeffectiveness of the entire intellectual property system depends on theability of all intellectual property owners to not only establish, butalso to obtain value from their valid intellectual property rights.

Unfortunately, many intellectual property owners are not even aware ofthe real possibility of undetected infringements. Furthermore, many ofthe intellectual property owners who are actually aware of thepossibility of undetected infringements do not fully realize the needfor detecting such infringements or are unable to develop an efficientand effective process for detecting such infringements. Moreover, evenwhen infringements are detected, many intellectual property owners areunable to satisfactorily stop such infringements, resulting in the lossof enormous potential value from intellectual property assets.

Through at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, owners ofintellectual property assets are able to efficiently and effectivelyobtain value from those assets by utilizing a computer system thatmanages an efficient and effective process of providing rewards tointellectual property value facilitators, such as inventors, engineers,etc., among others, who accomplish a plurality of value facilitationtasks. In one example implementation of such a system, a corporate ownerof intellectual property assets is able to overcome many of the problemsassociated with realizing value from corporate intellectual propertyassets. Such an implementation, through electronic communications, suchas website communications, electronic mail communications, instantmessaging communications, etc., systematically communicates rewardopportunities to employees with correlated expertise in specific areasthat are particularly relevant to identified intellectual propertyassets, receives resulting information after such tasks are performed bythe employees, and provides rewards to the employees after the tasks arevalidated. This embodiment and others included within the scope of thisdisclosure are discussed in greater detail below.

While other embodiments and implementations are also considered to bewithin the scope of the present disclosure, as discussed below, benefitsto this particular implementation and embodiment clearly include agreater likelihood that intellectual property owners will realizemaximum value from their intellectual property assets, which also helpsstrengthen the intellectual property legal system in which thatintellectual property owner participates. While some companies mayreward employees for assisting in the creation of intellectual propertyand may even have employees dedicated to marketing and licensingintellectual property, this example implementation provides a system inwhich those who have greater amounts of knowledge and experience inparticular subject matter areas have incentives and convenient,efficient and continued opportunities to participate in obtaining valuefrom intellectual property assets.

Refer now to the FIG. 1, which shows a high level block diagramrepresentation of a generalized potential realization system 100 thatincludes a potential entity system 110 (i.e., a system of an entityhaving at least one potential), a network 120, and a potentialrealization assistant 130. Broadly speaking, principles and teachings ofthe present disclosure can be applied to a variety of potentials in avariety of environments. In one particular group of embodiments, asprimarily discussed herein, value (one type of realization of potential)is obtained from intellectual property assets (one type of potential),but it should be understood that, in addition to other types ofpotentials and other types of potential realizations, value can also beobtained from other types of assets (e.g., conventional tangible andintangible assets, among others) utilizing the broader aspects of theprinciples of the present disclosure, as will be understood by thosereasonably skilled in the art. Furthermore, elements of certainembodiments of the present disclosure, such as the potential realizationassistant 130, among others, should be understood to include, in variousembodiments, completely computerized systems, including those involvingonly one computing device or multiple computing devices performing assetmanagement and value facilitation functions, as well as systemsinvolving human interaction. For example, in some embodiments, thefunctions of the potential realization assistant 130 are performedentirely by automatic logic in at least one computer system, whereasother embodiments include at least one human providing input through afacilitator computing device. In one example implementation directedtoward intellectual property, as discussed above as one example amongothers, a patent inventor employee of a corporation operating acomputing device embodies one example of the potential realizationassistant 130, while the network 120 can be implemented as a corporatenetwork, public network or a combination of both, as acceptableexamples, among others, and the potential entity system 110 can beimplemented as an enhanced intellectual property management system ownedor used by an entity, such as a corporation, among others, that alsoowns or can benefit from the intellectual property assets being managed.In addition, the potential realization assistant 130, as well as otherelements shown as single elements throughout the figures, arerepresentative of multiple similar elements in various embodiments.Also, other embodiments do not include a network 120 separating thepotential realization assistant 130 from the potential entity system110.

Refer now also to FIG. 2, which shows a high level flow chartrepresentation of a generalized potential realization process 200, inaccordance with the generalized potential realization system embodiment100 shown in FIG. 1. The process 200 includes, as indicated by step 210,communication with a potential realization assistant 130 regardingpotential realization assistance. As discussed in more detail below, insome embodiments, such communication includes an electronicallycommunicated request from the potential entity system 110 to a potentialrealization assistant 130 to perform a potential realization assistancetask, such as a value facilitation task, among others, as well asresponsive electronic communication regarding the task, such asinformation resulting from the performance of the task. As furtherdiscussed below, other embodiments do not include a request beingcommunicated to a potential realization assistant 130 as an initialcommunication step, but instead include, as one example among others, apotential realization assistant 130 requesting permission to perform atask, after which permission may be selectively granted and communicatedto the potential realization assistant 130 after analysis of therequest. Furthermore, other example embodiments, among others, do notinclude requests for tasks to be performed or requests for permission toperform a task, but instead respond to unsolicited submissions frompreviously unknown potential realization assistants 130 who have alreadyperformed unsolicited potential realization assistance tasks.Accordingly, in some of those embodiments, a website (or otherinterface) is provided through the Internet (or other network) toreceive information from virtually anyone, or any thing or processingentity, resulting from such unsolicited potential realization assistancetasks. In addition, some of those embodiments are not limited toreceiving information regarding potentials (including assets, amongother acceptable potentials) owned or controlled through entitiesassociated with the website.

After communication regarding potential realization assistance takesplace in step 210, the process 200 continues in step 220 to determinewhether a resource incrementation for the potential realizationassistant 130 is in order. In one embodiment, among others, thisdetermination includes an evaluation of information resulting fromcompletion of a value facilitation task. Some embodiments includeelectronically communicating such information to another employee of acorporation who functions as an authorizer by validating the completionof the task and authorizing a reward (resource incrementation) for thevalue facilitator. Other embodiments include computer logic forperforming such functions (among others) without human interaction.Still other embodiments perform no analysis, but simply provide a rewardto the value facilitator as soon as the value facilitator provides someindication that the task is complete or when it is otherwise determinedthat at least part of the task has been performed. If criteria forresource incrementation are satisfied, the potential realizationassistant 130 receives a resource incrementation, such as additionalresources or an enhancement to existing resources, among others, asindicated in step 230. Such resource enhancement may include thegeneration of information and further communication authorizing theresource enhancement, among other acceptable examples. If resourceincrementation is not appropriate, the potential realization assistant130 is not rewarded. In some embodiments, after an authorizer providesan indication of authorization, an electronic communication is providedto an administrator who then interacts with a reward disbursementsystem, such as through a computer system, to cause a reward to beprovided to the potential realization assistant 130, such as an increasein an employee paycheck through a corporate payroll system. Otherembodiments include other reward schemes that include point systems andother processes for providing transfer of value in exchange for theperformance of a value facilitation task. Other forms of reward alsoinclude intangible benefits, such as entries in personnel folderscomplimenting employees, etc. Still other embodiments include morecompletely computerized environments where processing entities, such asrobots, software entities, or artificial intelligence entities, amongothers, receive resource incrementations in the form of energy, memory,or additional functionalities or abilities, among others, in exchangefor providing potential realization assistance for a similar or othertype of entity, such as through enabling or facilitating use ofuntapped, unavailable, broken, or underutilized potentials. Otherpotentials included within the scope of the present disclosure includeany type of trespass event or violation of any rights of an entity,including those causing injuries, among others, since an opportunity forfinancial recompense may exist, and embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be used to provide assistance in realizing suchpotentials.

Refer now to FIG. 3, which shows a more detailed block diagramrepresentation of an example implementation of one embodiment of FIG. 1.An asset utilization system 300 is shown including an asset system 310connected through a network 320 to a value facilitator 330, an assigner332, a validator 334, and an administrator 336. The asset system 310 isshown including an asset creation and maintenance system 340, a rewarddisbursement system 342, a web server 344, a value facilitationmanagement system 350, and a storage system 370. The value facilitationmanagement system 350 is shown including an asset/task identification(ID) system 352, an assignment system 354, a facilitator system 356, avalidation system 358, and an admin system 359, each of which can beembodied in a separate computer system or as programming logic (modules,programs, etc.) in one or more computer systems standing separately orintegrated into the asset creation and maintenance system 340. Otherfunctions of the value facilitation management system 350 discussedherein are performed by additional programming or logic not illustratedas a distinct block. The network 320 includes, in one embodiment, aglobal computer network, such as the Internet, and any connectedcomputer network and/or telecommunications network, including any wiredor wireless network, mobile network, WAN (Wide Area Network), LAN (LocalArea Network) or MAN (Metropolitan-area network). In other embodiments,the network 320 is located inside a corporate environment, providing nooutside access through the Internet.

In various embodiments, each of the elements shown in FIG. 3, other thanthe network 320, is embodied in one or more computing devices includingprogramming logic for performing the functions discussed herein. In aportion of those embodiments, users interact with those computingdevices to assist in accomplishing such functions. In addition, theelements of the asset system 310 can be embodied in one or morecomputing devices, with or without user interaction, in variousembodiments. FIG. 4 shows an example computing device (computer) 400that represents one embodiment of such computing devices, though thereis no intention to limit the present disclosure to any particular typeof computing device. As shown, example computing device 400 includes aprocessor 440, memory 460, and one or more input and/or output (I/O)devices 420 (or peripherals) that are communicatively coupled via alocal interface 410. The local interface 410 can be, for example but notlimited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, asis known in the art. The processor 440 is, in one embodiment, a hardwaredevice for executing (or interpreting) software, particularly thatstored in memory 460. The memory 460 includes any one or combination ofvolatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM,SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, harddrive, tape, CDROM, etc.). Moreover, the memory 460 may incorporateelectronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Notethat the memory 460 can also have a distributed architecture, wherevarious components are situated remote from one another, but can beaccessed by the processor 440.

The software in memory 460 includes multiple separate programs,represented as programming logic 470, each of which comprises an orderedlisting of executable instructions for implementing logical functions,for example, to provide the various functions discussed herein. Asshown, the software in the memory 460 includes programming logic 470 andoperating system (O/S) 480. The operating system 480 controls theexecution of other computer programs, such as the programming logic 470,and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management,memory management, and communication control and related services. TheI/O devices 420 may include input devices, for example but not limitedto, a keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, etc. Furthermore, the I/Odevices 420 may also include output devices, for example but not limitedto, a printer, display, etc. Finally, the I/O devices 420 may furtherinclude devices that communicate both inputs and outputs, for instancebut not limited to, a modulator/demodulator (modem; for accessinganother device, system, or network), a network access device, a radiofrequency (RF) or other transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, arouter, etc. If the computer 400 is a personal computer (PC),workstation, server, or the like, the software in the memory 460 mayfurther include a basic input output system (BIOS). The BIOS is a set ofsoftware routines that initializes and tests hardware at startup, startsthe O/S 480, and supports the transfer of data among the hardwaredevices. The BIOS is stored in ROM so that the BIOS can be executed whenthe computer 400 is activated. When the computer 400 is in operation,the processor 440 is configured to execute software stored within thememory 460, to communicate data to and from the memory 460, and togenerally control operations of the computer 400 pursuant to thesoftware. The programming logic 470 and the O/S 480, in whole or inpart, are read by the processor 440, and perhaps buffered within theprocessor 440, and then executed.

Each of the elements of FIG. 3 will now be described in more detail andin an example context of an intellectual property asset valuefacilitation environment. While obtaining value from patent assets isdiscussed as an example, other embodiments include obtaining value fromother types of intellectual property assets, as well as other types ofassets other than intellectual property, as referenced above. Otherexamples of intellectual property include assets arising from copyright,trademark, and trade secret rights, among others. In addition,intellectual property asset implementations are not limited to issuedpatents, but can also include obtaining value from pending patentapplications or potentially patentable embodiments, as well as otherassets related to other forms of intellectual property in various stagesof their protection life cycles. Thus, functions and elements discussedbelow in the context of issued patents are intended to apply to othertypes of assets as well in other implementations. In one exampleembodiment, the value facilitation management system 350 is connectedthrough at least one internal corporate network to the asset creationand maintenance system 340, the reward disbursement system 342, the webserver 344, and the storage system 370. In some embodiments, while eachof the systems of the asset system 310 include data storage systems,including databases, table structures, etc., for use in performing thefunctions outlined herein, the storage system 370 is representative ofstorage that various systems may also utilize. In other embodiments, thestorage system 370 is the primary storage facility for various systemswithin the asset system 310. Still other embodiments include nocentralized storage capabilities, with each of the various systemsincluding their respective storage systems. Thus, records in variousdatabases are linked together through mapping in some embodiments toenable virtual packets of information to be assembled from disparatesystems so that a broader view of associated information can be producedfor a user.

In one embodiment, the value facilitation management system 350interacts with the storage system 370, asset creation and maintenancesystem 340, and reward disbursement system 342 to send and receive datathrough web server 344 and network 320 to users (through user computers)represented by assigner 332, validator 334, administrator 336, and valuefacilitator 330. In one embodiment, the web server 344 formats data into(and interprets data received in) HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), orany other format that can be interpreted by users, for transmissionthrough the network 320 to users. Web server 344 utilizes HTTP(HyperText Transfer Protocol), as well as other protocols, tocommunicate HTML data to and from user devices. In one embodiment, webserver 344 also executes scripts and other programs to serve (transmitto users) static and dynamically generated web pages based uponstatically stored and dynamically generated data, including datadynamically received from the value facilitation management system 350,the storage system 370, the asset creation and maintenance system 340,and the reward disbursement system 342. User computing devices alsoinclude web browsing programming, such as browser software, one exampleof which is Microsoft® Internet Explorer, among others. In otherembodiments, other methods of communication are utilized, includingelectronic mail (e-mail), instant messaging, etc., as well as datamanipulation through Remote access, such as through Remote DesktopConnection, among others, can also be provided for users to directlymanipulate database information through the value facilitationmanagement system 350. Of course, in such embodiments, user computersalso include any additional client software for accomplishing suchcommunications. In addition, application servers and additional softwareand components (not shown) are also included within the asset system 310in other embodiments in order to accomplish the various functionsreferenced herein. Embodiments are also included wherein multipleservers are performing similar functions, such as web serving, amongothers, and additional load balancing servers are used to spread theload across the multiple servers.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, refer also to FIG. 5, which shows aflow chart representation of a process 500 of the example implementationshown in FIG. 3. As indicated by step 510, asset data is accessed by theasset/task ID system 352 to identify an appropriate asset and valuefacilitation task. In an intellectual property implementation, recordsin at least one database corresponding to intellectual property assetsare created and maintained by the asset creation and maintenance system340. At least one example of such a system, in accordance with at leastone embodiment, among others, is disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/330,354, filed Dec. 30, 2002, entitled “Systems andProcesses for Technology Asset Management,” which is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety. In one embodiment, a system that maintainsintellectual property asset management information, such as patentnumber, maintenance fee due dates and other relevant dates, inventorcontact information, etc., also maintains information about valuefacilitation tasks and stages of the tasks. In other embodiments, thetask data is maintained in separate associated databases or datastructures which, in some embodiments, are maintained by the valuefacilitation management system 350. Similarly, in various embodiments,data regarding stages of the tasks can also be maintained separatelyfrom the asset creation and maintenance system 340 or integratedtherein. Furthermore, portions of step 510 can alternatively beillustrated as separate steps since identifying a patent, for example,for value facilitation may be handled separately from determining avalue facilitation task for that patent. For example, in someembodiments, task identification can also involve interaction with auser, such as administrator 336, who provides information that further(or completely) defines a next value facilitation task for the patent.In some embodiments, any interaction with the administrator 336 ishandled by, or in conjunction with, the admin system 359. Thedescription of such a task, including reward definitions and amounts,limitations on the choice or qualifications for potential valuefacilitators, etc., can be saved and stored as part of a separateprocess that takes place before the process otherwise shown in FIG. 5takes place. In an embodiment with such a preceding process, anadministrator 336 would be enabled to define tasks as associated with aparticular patent through an interface that stores information regardingthe tasks, including their relationship to other tasks and theirassociation with one or more patents or other intellectual propertyassets.

Examples of tasks that can be performed in one implementation of anintellectual property value facilitation process as it pertains to anissued patent include the following. A first example task, or “tasklevel”, includes a simple review of known information regarding theissued patent asset, including the value facilitator 330 submitting anycomments the value facilitator 330 may have that may assist in theobtaining of value from the issued patent, such as identification of anypotential infringers of the patent that the value facilitator 330 mayjust happen to know about, among other potential comments. Research isnot requested as part of this task, though it is not discouraged if thevalue facilitator 330 wishes to perform research. Since the valuefacilitator 330 may have no thoughts that may assist in the valuefacilitation process, including knowledge of potential infringers, theremay also be no comments at this stage. Thus, in one example, a valuefacilitator 330 may simply indicate that while there are no comments,the patent was reviewed, and the value facilitator 330 consideredwhether providing comments would be useful. In some respects, this firstexample task can be characterized as a broad or high level review. Thisfirst example task can be further characterized as a set, predefined, orstatic, task since there is no need, in some embodiments, for anadministrator 336 to alter, or supplement, the definition of the task.Nonetheless, other embodiments include providing an administrator 336 aninterface into the task definition to make changes that are eitherglobal, i.e., applied to all patents, and/or that are applied to one ora select group of patents.

A second example task, or task level, can be characterized as a moredetailed review and includes researching other sources of informationregarding potential value facilitation opportunities (e.g., identifyingpotential infringements of the patent) and providing a more detailedreport regarding the results of the research. In some embodiments, areasand sources of information to be researched may also be designated aspart of the task. As discussed above, an administrator 336 is providedan interface in such embodiments to be able to edit the definition ofthis task by so identifying such potential sources of information.Requirements for the report that should be submitted may also be thesubject of the predefined task definition, and in some embodiments, canbe altered, supplemented, or supplied completely through administrativeinput. In addition, minimum amounts of time spent on research, as wellas report length and other specifications can be included in thedefinition. Potential sources of information include the World Wide Web,printed subject matter, and trade shows. The printed matter may bedesignated as available from a particular source, including inside andoutside of an organization, such as a corporation.

A third example task, or task level, involves comparing one or moreclaims of a patent to one or more specified potential infringements. Forexample, a particular product identified in a first example task levelor a second example task level may be considered during this analysis.Of course, some embodiments include using the same value facilitator 330throughout the various tasks, but other embodiments include usingdifferent value facilitators 330 for one or more different tasks for thesame patent. Furthermore, some levels of tasks may be combined withother levels of tasks in some embodiments. In addition, some tasks maybe skipped or rendered unavailable in some embodiments. For example, ifa potential infringement is determined during the first example taskdiscussed above, there may be no need for performance of the secondexample task since additional research may not be needed at that point.Thus, in a sense, the second example task is a conditional task thatdepends on the outcome of the first example task.

A fourth example task, or task level, includes providing assistance inthe development of an offer for a license for the patent. The exact typeof assistance for this task can be defined by an administrator 336 andcan include reviewing previous licensing offers, reviewing standardlicensing rates and terms for the industry sector specific to thepatent, outlining why a potential licensee should seriously consider theoffer, among others. A fifth example task, or task level, includesparticipating in negotiations with a potential licensee for the patent.Such a value facilitation task could include preparing for, andattending, meetings with potential licensee representatives. Finally, asixth example task, or task level, includes participating in litigation.Such activities could include assisting attorneys in preparing forlitigation, participating in depositions, testifying in court, servingas an expert witness, etc. For the embodiments in which administrativeinput is enabled for defining tasks, it is generally more likely thatadministrative input would be provided for the fourth, fifth and sixthlevels than for the first, second and third levels because of the highervariability for the fourth, fifth and sixth levels.

Continuing with the process referenced by step 510 in FIG. 5,identifying the appropriate asset, such as the appropriate patent, caninclude systematically (and periodically) going through all of thepatents in the asset creation and maintenance system 340, or goingthrough only a subset of patents that have been marked, such as by anadministrator 336 in the asset creation and maintenance system 340, asbeing ready for the value facilitation process 500 of FIG. 5. Thus,after the value facilitation process 500 is performed for one patent,the value facilitation process 500 is repeated for the next patent inthe list or in the entire asset creation and maintenance system 340.Other embodiments include the use of triggers in the asset creation andmaintenance system 340 to prompt the initiation of the facilitationprocess 500. For example, one or more date triggers could be set in adatabase record for a particular patent maintained by the asset creationand maintenance system 340 to communicate with the value facilitationmanagement system 350 to initiate the value facilitation process 500 forthat particular patent. In one implementation, event-based triggersinclude the payment of an issue fee or a maintenance fee for a patent,among others. State machine programming could be used to implement thisparticular triggering arrangement in the asset creation and maintenancesystem 340.

The scope of this disclosure also includes other types of assetmanagement triggers that could prompt initiation of the valuefacilitation process 500. For example, date-based triggers initiate thevalue facilitation process 500 in some implementations, such as passageof an issue date for a patent. In some embodiments, the valuefacilitation process 500 initiation communication from the assetcreation and maintenance system 340 to the value facilitation managementsystem 350 is handled without user interaction. However, in otherembodiments, an administrator 336 is needed to approve the initiation ofthe process. Furthermore, some of those embodiments instead include acommunication from the asset creation and maintenance system 340 to theadministrator 336 indicating that the value facilitation process 500should be initiated, at which point the administrator 336 manuallybegins the value facilitation process 500 for that patent. Still otherembodiments, among others, include an administrator 336, without anyprompting by the asset creation and maintenance system 340, initiatingthe value facilitation process 500 by manually identifying for the valuefacilitation management system 350 a patent to be the subject of thevalue facilitation process 500. As discussed above, in oneimplementation, after a patent is identified, the next valuefacilitation task for that patent is determined by the asset/task IDsystem 352 of the value facilitation management system 350. Since thereare a series of value facilitation tasks (task levels) to be performedfor an asset, such as a patent, each successful pass through the valuefacilitation process 500 for a particular patent may regard a differenttask in the series, in some implementations.

Subsequently, as indicated by step 512, an appropriate value facilitator330 is identified by the assignment system 354. In the implementationshown in FIG. 3, the assigner 332 interacts with the assignment system354 to identify the value facilitator 330. As with other userinteractions and communications discussed in the present disclosure,such interaction can take place through a web page interface, e-mailmessaging, instant messaging, direct or remote access into anapplication interface, among others. In one implementation, there is oneuser designated as the assigner 332, one user designated as thevalidator 334, and one user designated as the administrator 336.However, one or more users can also perform multiple roles, e.g., theadministrator 336, assigner 332, and validator 334, and in oneimplementation, all of those roles are performed by a single user. Insome other embodiments, a database of potential assigners is maintainedby the assignment system 354 so that an appropriate assigner 332 can beselected, based on subject matter area, skill sets of the potentialassigners 332, assignment workload balancing, among others, and thennotified that a particular value facilitation task for a particularpatent needs to be assigned. In other embodiments, the assigner 332 doesnot exist, and the assignment system 354 is more automated, though insome of those embodiments, an administrator 336 may still interact withthe assignment system 354 to initiate, configure or maintain theautomated assignment process. In one such implementation, one or moreinventors on the patent are automatically chosen to be the first valuefacilitators 330 for a patent. Subsequent value facilitators 330, and insome embodiments, the first value facilitators 330, are selected throughuse of a database (or other memory structure) of potential valuefacilitators. Such a database of potential value facilitators can bemaintained by the assignment system 354 and include informationregarding, among others, the subject matter areas of expertise andcurrent assignments (workloads) for each potential value facilitator330. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the assignment system 354 isprogrammed to compare the subject matter area of a particular patent tothe subject matter areas of expertise for the potential valuefacilitators 330 in order to identify an appropriate value facilitator330. Likewise, load balancing of the workloads of the potential valuefacilitators 330 can be performed so that workloads are spread out moreevenly. In some implementations, value facilitators 330 may have nospecialized knowledge or association with a patent or patentedtechnology. In one implementation, key words can be used in thepotential value facilitator database to define the areas of expertise,and those key words can be compared to key words assigned to, or derivedfrom, the patent for which a value facilitator 330 is being assigned. Inyet other embodiments, there is no separate value facilitator 330 forone or more value facilitation tasks, and the value facilitation system350 performs such value facilitation tasks automatically, and in some ofthose embodiments, as configured by an administrator 336. Thus, someembodiments include in step 512 an identification of an automated valuefacilitation process as one potential value facilitator 330 in theanalysis of whether to assign a value facilitation task to a user or tosuch a process, while other embodiments automatically assign certainvalue facilitation tasks to processes without making such a comparativedetermination.

Step 514 indicates that a request is subsequently made for the valuefacilitation task to be performed as part of the value facilitationprocess 500. In one implementation, a message, such as the partialscreen shot representation of the request 600 represented in FIG. 6, isgenerated by the facilitator system 356 and transmitted to an assignedvalue facilitator 330. With additional reference now to FIG. 6, therequest 600 is one example of a communication that may be sent through acommunication system, e.g., e-mail, instant message, etc., to a valuefacilitator 330. In this particular example, the value facilitator 330is shown as Mr. John Smith, and the patent at issue is fictional exampleU.S. Pat. No. 8,235,678. Value facilitator contact information 605 andpatent number 610 are examples of asset information derived from theasset creation and maintenance system 340. A value facilitation taskdescription 620 is also included in the request, and in this example,indicates an example first level task, as described above. An e-mailreply invitation 630 is provided that indicates that the valuefacilitator 330 may simply reply to the e-mail message with a messagethat includes an indication that he reviewed the patent and includes anythoughts he has regarding potential infringers.

In addition, a website reply invitation 640 is also included in the formof a hyperlink to a website interface provided through the web server344, in conjunction with the facilitator system 356, an example of whichis shown in FIG. 7 and discussed in greater detail below. In otherimplementations, either the e-mail reply invitation 630 or the websitereply invitation 640 is included, but not both. In still otherimplementations, other types of reply invitations are included in placeof, or in addition to, the reply invitations 630 and 640. Work flowsystems may also be utilized to communicate and track responsesthroughout value facilitation process 500, and automated, “clickable”buttons may be included in communications for further facilitatingcommunication and the tracking of it. In yet other implementations, noreply invitations are provided. Finally, example reward information 650is provided in the request 600. Other implementations include no rewardinformation, and yet other implementations include additional rewardinformation, such as promised dollar amounts, among others. Additionalinformation may also be provided in the request 600, including deadlineinformation for completion of the value facilitation task, among othertypes of information. Other implementations of the request 600 mayinclude, instead of, or in addition to, the reply invitations 630 and640, an acceptance invitation whereby the value facilitator is requestedto first simply reply with an acceptance of the task, i.e., anindication that the value facilitator 330 will indeed perform the task.Such information could also be tracked and provided as part of the taskstages shown in FIG. 7, which is discussed in greater detail below.

After the value facilitation task is assigned and communicated to anassigned value facilitator 330, the value facilitation management system350, in one embodiment, waits until an indication is received that thetask has been completed, as indicated in step 516. While the wait timeis not explicitly indicated in FIG. 5, it should be understood that thevalue facilitation process 500 includes wait times at various placeswhen a user or other process is performing steps described herein. Someimplementations also include time-out routines at each wait stage thatflag an administrator 336 or takes other actions in order to keep thevalue facilitation process 500 moving along. In one embodiment, thevalue facilitator 330 may utilize more automated systems for performingassigned value facilitation tasks. One example of such as system isdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/026,737, filed Dec. 30,2004, entitled “Infringer Finder,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. In other embodiments, one or more of theautomated processes disclosed in that example system are incorporatedinto the facilitator system 356 so that an external value facilitator330 is not utilized for some or all value facilitation tasks in thoseembodiments.

As discussed above, a task completion indication can be received in avariety of different formats, in accordance with different embodiments.For example, an e-mail or instant messaging reply message may constitutethe task completion indication in some implementations. In various otherimplementations, information may be received (and stored) in accordancewith a script or other logic at the web server 344 that is processinginformation received in response to a user interacting with a web page.For example, a user may check a task completion checkbox when the valuefacilitation task is complete, as well as check other boxesrepresentative of defined responses or results of tasks. A text entrybox may also be included for comments and/or Internet addresses ofadditional information that the value facilitator 330 wishes toreference and be included in the task completion information. A fileuploading mechanism may also be included to upload more extensiveinformation, such as lengthy textual and graphics information, amongothers. The particular visual formats in which such entry devices areprovided, as well as the visual formats of other functions discussedherein, are not as important as the fact that the functions themselvesare provided, as discussed in accordance with a subset of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Finally, some tasks do notinclude receiving information from a value facilitator 330. Instead, anadministrator 336 provides such indication through an administrativeinterface, as with other functions performed by an administrator 336. Inyet other embodiments, the value facilitation process 500 never waitsfor a task completion indication to be received, but instead continuesto step 518.

In the implementation shown in FIG. 5, with additional continuedreference to FIG. 3, step 518 refers to an attempt being made by thevalidator 334 interacting with the validation system 358 to validate thecompletion of the value facilitation task (which is one example ofdetermining that a potential realization assistance function has beensatisfactorily processed) in order to determine if a reward isauthorized in step 520 so that in step 520 an instruction for a rewardto be disbursed to the value facilitator 330 can be communicated to thereward disbursement system 342. In one implementation, a particularvalidator 334 is identified among a plurality of potential validatorswho are managed by the validation system 358, and then a message orother notification is provided to the identified validator 334 regardingthe need for the validator 334 to validate the alleged task completion.In manners similar to the identification of assigners 332 and valuefacilitators 330 described above, various embodiments include, amongothers, the validation system 358 managing a list of potentialvalidators 334, as well as embodiments including only one validator 334.Still other embodiments include no validator 334 existing at all, andsteps 518 and 520 being omitted for all, system defined, oradministrator-selected value facilitation tasks. Yet other embodimentsinclude an automated validation system 358. In some implementations,such an automated validation system 358 would compare task completioninformation, such as a report from a value facilitator 330, to a set ofdefined requirements (or criteria) for the task completion information,such as word count, the inclusion of certain words, evaluation ofcertain concepts, etc., among others. In other implementations, a webpage interface may include multiple questions for the value facilitator330 to answer, after which the validation system 358 and web server 344perform data integrity checks and other evaluations for the answers tothe questions.

As discussed above, in one embodiment, if the validation system 358determines that the assigned task has been completed successfully, itthen determines that a reward is authorized in step 520 and in step 522instructs the reward disbursement system 342 to disburse a reward to thevalue facilitator 330. In other embodiments, additional steps may beincluded after a task completion is validated before the valuefacilitation management system 350 instructs the reward disbursementsystem 342 to disburse a reward to the value facilitator 330. Forexample, additional logic in the value facilitation management system350 may determine, among other things, whether the value facilitator 330is still affiliated with the owner of the patent, e.g., still employedby a company who owns the patent, etc. In some embodiments in whichunsolicited tasks information is received, an additional valuationanalysis may be performed to determine the value of the task before areward amount is calculated. The administrator 336 and admin system 359may also be involved in directing the reward disbursement system 342 todisburse the reward to the value facilitator 330. Thus, the validationand authorization determinations are the same determination in someembodiments, but they are separate determinations in other embodiments.If reward authorization does not occur, an explanatory communication isprovided back to the value facilitator 330 in some embodiments. As withother communications, such a communication can take several formats, asdiscussed above. In addition, a validator 334 actually calls the valuefacilitator 330 on the telephone to verbally communicate thisexplanatory information in some embodiments in an effort to encouragethe value facilitator 330 to continue in the process. Thus, the valuefacilitator 330 will, in some embodiments, have another opportunity tocomplete the task to the satisfaction of the validator 334 so that areward can be authorized.

Subsequently, in step 525 the results of the various steps and methodsperformed as part of the value facilitation process 500 are stored. Asdiscussed above, the storage is performed in a manner that preserves therelationships between the patent management information in the assetcreation and maintenance system 340 and the results of the functionsperformed by the various users and processes. Thus, reports (e.g.,internal and external, online and print, etc.) can be generated thatshow various stages of tasks for each patent, the tasks and stages foreach value facilitator 330, etc. Step 526 indicates that, as discussedabove, an escalation of the task levels occurs so that the next passthrough the value facilitation process 500 occurs with a next valuefacilitation task in a series of tasks for the patent.

With continued additional reference to elements of FIGS. 3, 5 and 6,FIG. 7 shows a partial screen shot of a web page 700 displaying valuefacilitation status of patent, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.6. After a value facilitator 330 clicks on the hyperlink in the replyinvitation 640 shown in FIG. 6, the web page at an address 710 shown inFIG. 7 appears for the value facilitator 330 in a browser program, asgenerated by the web server 344. Other embodiments include a requirementthat the value facilitator 330 enter authentication information(previously assigned username and password) on an intervening web pagebefore the web page of FIG. 7 is provided to the value facilitator 330.As indicated by a heading on the web page 700, an indication of thepatent number 720 and an indication of the name of the value facilitator730 are provided as hyperlinks in the shown implementation, and theinformation corresponds to similar information in the message of FIG. 6.As indicated in FIG. 7, the value facilitator 330 is enabled to click onthe patent number hyperlink 720 to display additional information fromthe asset creation and maintenance system 340 regarding the patent, suchas maintenance fee information, descriptive information, patenteeproducts protected by the patent, etc. Of course, in variousembodiments, the web server 344 would responsively communicate with theasset creation and maintenance system 340, or directly with the storagesystem 370, to dynamically access and translate such information fordisplay to the value facilitator 330. Likewise, clicking on the valuefacilitator name hyperlink 730 would provide additional information,similar to that shown on FIG. 7, from the storage system 370 regardingother patents with which the value facilitator 330 is associated.

In addition, a task stage grid 740 is shown including stage headings 750and task descriptors 760 bordering a grid block portion 770 with aplurality of grid blocks, such as grid block 774, in which X indicators,such as X indicator 772, provide an indication that particular tasks areat particular stages in the value facilitation process 500. Asinstructions on the web page 700 indicate, clicking on any of the gridboxes, such as grid box 774, will provide additional informationregarding the associated task and stage. Such additional information isprovided, in some implementations, on separately launched smallerbrowser pages, and in other implementations, in mouse-over windows,among other acceptable methods. The content of such information caninclude potential reward information for completion of a particulartask, links to additional documents that should be reviewed as part of atask, the actual documents or comments previously provided by the valuefacilitator 330 for this patent, etc. In one implementation, grid blocksunder the “VALID” column may also link to comments from the validator334 explaining why a reward was or was not authorized for disbursement,in which case an X would not appear in the “DISBURSE” column for such atask. Each of the stage headings 750 and task descriptors 760 are alsoeach shown as hyperlinks, and in some implementations, clicking on suchhyperlinks would provide additional descriptive information about suchstages and tasks, some of which may be selectively defined for aparticular patent, such as by the administrator 336. A user clicking onan empty RECEIVE grid box, after having received an assignment, suchgrid box 774, will be taken as an indication in some implementationsthat the value facilitator 330 has completed an assigned task. Inaddition, in some implementations, activation of a RECEIVE grid box willlaunch another browser window for the value facilitator 330 to answeradditional questions and, depending on the task, upload additionalinformation.

Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure, such as the assetsystem 310, among others, can be implemented in hardware, software,firmware, or a combination thereof, among other options. In oneembodiment, for example, the asset system 310 is implemented in softwareor firmware that is stored in one or more memories and that is executedby one or more suitable instruction execution systems, such as a specialor general purpose digital computer, such as a personal computer (PC;IBM-compatible, Apple-compatible, or otherwise), workstation,minicomputer, or mainframe computer, among others. When the asset system310 is implemented in software, as is shown in FIG. 3, it should benoted that the asset system 310 can be stored on any computer readablemedium for use by or in connection with any computer related system ormethod. In the context of this document, a computer readable medium isan electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means thatcan contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection witha computer related system or method. Furthermore, any processdescriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood asrepresenting modules, segments, or portions of code which include one ormore executable instructions for implementing specific logical functionsor steps in the process, and alternate implementations are includedwithin the scope of the present disclosure in which functions may beexecuted out of order from that shown or discussed, includingsubstantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on thefunctionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonablyskilled in the art of the present disclosure. The following U.S.applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:application Ser. No. 10/330,354, Provisional Application No. 60/372,978,application Ser. No. 09/750,001, Provisional Application No. 60/173,919,Provisional Application No. 60/192,862, application Ser. No. 11/026,737,application Ser. No. 10/188,209, application Ser. No. 10/004,497,application Ser. No. 09/750,012, application Ser. No. 09/750,154,application Ser. No. 09/946,457, application Ser. No. 09/750,000,application Ser. No. 09/750,130, application Ser. No. 09/750,001,application Ser. No. 09/946,593, application Ser. No. 09/750,136.

Refer now to FIG. 8, which shows a partial screen shot of a web page 800displaying a more generalized potential realization assistance inputscreen, in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.Other embodiments are not web based, but instead provide other types ofinterfaces or accesses in which other types of information can becommunicated. After entering a URL 810 or clicking on a hyperlink, auser receives a web page 800 that is served by a web server (not shown)in accordance with one embodiment. After a title 820 indicating thatthis web page is part of a potential realization assistance system,instructions 830 indicate that the user is prompted to enter potentialrealization assistance information in area 840. In some embodiments,area 840 includes a free-form text entry box in which a user maydescribe one or more potentials and potential realization activities,while other embodiments include selectable options and/or categories ofoptions, such as through drop-down boxes or check-boxes with previouslydefined options accessed through one or more lists or databases,including those located locally and remotely from the web server andincluding data sources associated with, and those independent from, theweb server or entities having the potentials. Thus, in some embodiments,data regarding potentials is evaluated in a manner that is coordinatedwith and known by entities having potentials, while in otherembodiments, entities with potentials are unaware of any of the past orfuture potential realization activities until later in a multi-stagedprocess, including before and after activities have been performed, inaccordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, requestsare made to known (and assigned, according to a process as discussedabove) and/or unknown potential realization assistants regardingpotentials of other entities having no prior association with therequestor or potential realization assistants, and after one or morepotential realization activities are performed, notification is providedto the entities having the potentials that the results or other elementsof the previous potential realization activities and/or future potentialrealization activities are available in exchange for resourceincrementation, such as compensation, including as a share of anycompensation eventually resulting from such activities. In otherembodiments, requests are not made for such potential realizationassistance. More generally, the web page 800 can be used in embodimentswhere there have not been solicitations or requests made of anyparticular potential realization assistants, as well as thoseembodiments in which requests have been made through othercommunications.

A submit button 860 is also shown for a user to submit the enteredinformation and/or selections, at which point the entered information isformed into a communication that is transmitted to the web server to beprocessed as part of the potential realization assistance system, asdiscussed above with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, in accordance withvarious embodiments, solicited and unsolicited offers for potentialassistance, including past and future activities, may be receivedthrough web page 800. Furthermore, the potentials may be those of anentity owning the web server, or logic generating the web page 800, aswell as potentials that are not associated in any way with suchentities, in accordance with various embodiments. In one example, theweb page 800 is part of a site where users are able to describe examplesof potential infringements of any patents, for example, in exchange, inone implementation, for compensation as a share of future revenue thatchanges hands as a result of the description. In such an example,additional processes, including people in some embodiments, as discussedabove, would evaluate the description and continue a process forattempting to obtain compensation from the alleged infringer. Otherprocessing may also filter or limit the information being enteredthrough area 840 so that clearly illegitimate entries are excluded or sothat only the requested types of information are processed.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments andexamples are merely possible examples of implementations, among others,merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of thedisclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to theabove-described embodiments without departing substantially from thespirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications andvariations are intended to be included herein within the scope of thisdisclosure.

We claim:
 1. A system comprising: at least one processor; and at leastone memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the at least one processor to performoperations comprising identifying an intellectual property asset from aplurality of intellectual property assets as ready for initiation of aprocess for managing assets without considering, on an asset-by-assetbasis, whether each of the plurality of intellectual property assets isready for initiation of the process for managing assets, whereinidentifying the intellectual property asset from the plurality ofintellectual property assets is based, at least in part, on theintellectual property asset being associated with a trigger that promptsinitiation of the process for managing assets, selecting a userassociated with the intellectual property asset for performing a task ofa plurality of tasks associated with the process for managing assets,providing, to the user, a request for performing the task, the requestcomprising reward information associated with performing the task, inresponse to receiving an acceptance to the request from the user,displaying, to the user via an interface, first representations of theplurality of tasks, wherein the plurality of tasks comprises identifyingany known potential infringers of the intellectual property asset,researching sources of information identifying potential infringers ofthe intellectual property asset, comparing the intellectual propertyasset with the known potential infringers and the potential infringersidentified, and assisting in providing an offer for licensing theintellectual property asset, displaying, to the user via the interface,second representations of a plurality of stages, wherein each of theplurality of tasks is associated with the plurality of stages,receiving, at the interface from the user, an indication that a stage ofthe plurality of stages of the task of the plurality of tasks has beencompleted by the user selected for performing the task, responsive toreceiving the indication, determining whether completion of the stage ofthe task by the user satisfies at least one condition for providing areward to the user in exchange for completing the stage of the task, andproviding instructions for disbursement of the reward to the user upondetermining that the user satisfies the at least one condition forproviding the reward.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the taskincludes analyzing data corresponding to a potential associated with theintellectual property asset to increase a likelihood of realization ofthe potential, and wherein receiving the indication that the stage hasbeen completed, determining whether completion of the stage satisfiesthe at least one condition, and providing the instructions fordisbursement of the reward are repeated through a multi-staged processfor conditional resource incrementation.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein selecting the user associated with the intellectual propertyasset for performing the task of the plurality of tasks associated withthe process for managing assets comprises: analyzing informationregarding a plurality of users and information regarding the task; andselecting the user from the plurality of users based at least in partupon the task and upon current workloads of the plurality of users. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the intellectual property asset is atleast one patent, and wherein the user includes an inventor on the atleast one patent.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the triggercomprises at least one of payment of an issue fee associated with theintellectual property asset or payment of a maintenance fee associatedwith the intellectual property asset.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereinselecting the user associated with the intellectual property asset forperforming the task of the plurality of tasks associated with theprocess for managing assets comprises: accessing first informationregarding a plurality of users that includes subject matter areainformation for each user of the plurality of users and accessing secondinformation regarding the intellectual property asset; performing acomparison of the second information regarding the intellectual propertyasset to the subject matter identification information for the pluralityof the users; performing a load balancing analysis that facilitatesbalancing of workloads for the plurality of the users; and identifyingthe user from the plurality of the users for performing the task of theplurality of tasks based on results of the comparison and the loadbalancing analysis.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein providing theinstructions for disbursement of the reward to the user upon determiningthat the user satisfies the at least one condition for providing thereward comprises effecting a monetary transfer to the user.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises task completioninformation provided by the user regarding the task, and whereindetermining whether completion of the stage of the task by the usersatisfies the at least one condition for providing the reward to theuser in exchange for completing the stage of the task comprisescomparing the task completion information received from the user to aset of defined requirements for the task completion information.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise determiningwhether the user is affiliated with an owner of the intellectualproperty asset before providing the instructions for disbursement of thereward to the user upon determining that the user satisfies the at leastone condition for providing the reward.
 10. The system of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise providing a communication to theuser regarding non-disbursement of the reward upon determining that theuser does not satisfy the at least one condition for providing thereward.
 11. A method comprising: identifying, by a system comprising aprocessor, an intellectual property asset from a plurality ofintellectual property assets as ready for initiation of a process formanaging assets without considering, on an asset-by-asset basis, whethereach of the plurality of intellectual property assets is ready forinitiation of the process for managing assets, wherein identifying theintellectual property asset from the plurality of intellectual propertyassets is based, at least in part, on the intellectual property assetbeing associated with a trigger that prompts initiation of the processfor managing assets; selecting, by the processor, a user associated withthe intellectual property asset for performing a task of a plurality oftasks associated with the process for managing assets; providing, by theprocessor, a request to the user for performing the task, the requestcomprising reward information associated with performing the task; inresponse to receiving an acceptance to the request from the user,displaying, by the processor to the user via an interface,representations of the plurality of tasks, wherein the plurality oftasks comprises identifying any known potential infringers of theintellectual property asset, researching sources of informationidentifying potential infringers of the intellectual property asset,comparing the intellectual property asset with the known potentialinfringers and the potential infringers identified, and assisting inproviding an offer for licensing the intellectual property asset;displaying, by the processor to the user via the interface,representations of a plurality of stages, wherein each of the pluralityof tasks is associated with the plurality of stages; receiving, by theprocessor from the user via the interface, an indication that a stage ofthe plurality of stages of the task of the plurality of tasks has beencompleted by the user selected for performing the task; responsive toreceiving the indication, determining, by the processor, whethercompletion of the stage of the task by the user satisfies at least onecondition for providing a reward to the user in exchange for completingthe stage of the task; and providing, by the processor, instructions fordisbursement of the reward to the user upon determining that the usersatisfies the at least one condition for providing the reward.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the intellectual property asset is a patentand the user is an inventor on the patent.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein selecting the user associated with the intellectual propertyasset for performing the task of the plurality of tasks associated withthe process for managing assets comprises: accessing first informationregarding a plurality of users that includes subject matter areainformation for each user of the plurality of users and accessing secondinformation regarding the intellectual property asset; performing acomparison of the second information regarding the intellectual propertyasset to the subject matter identification information for the pluralityof the users; performing a load balancing analysis that facilitatesbalancing of workloads for the plurality of the users; and identifyingthe user from the plurality of the users for performing the task of theplurality of tasks based on results of the comparison and the loadbalancing analysis.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the triggercomprises at least one of payment of an issue fee associated with theintellectual property asset or payment of a maintenance fee associatedwith the intellectual property asset.
 15. The method of claim 11,further comprising determining whether the user is affiliated with anowner of the intellectual property asset before providing theinstructions for disbursement of the reward to the user upon determiningthat the user satisfies the at least one condition for providing thereward.
 16. A computer readable storage device storingcomputer-executable instructions that, when executed by a systemcomprising a processor, causes the processor to perform operationscomprising: identifying an intellectual property asset from a pluralityof intellectual property assets as ready for initiation of a process formanaging assets without considering, on an asset-by-asset basis, whethereach of the plurality of intellectual property assets is ready forinitiation of the process for managing assets, wherein identifying theintellectual property asset from the plurality of intellectual propertyassets is based, at least in part, on the intellectual property assetbeing associated with a trigger that prompts initiation of the processfor managing assets; selecting a user associated with the intellectualproperty asset for performing a task of a plurality of tasks associatedwith the process for managing assets; providing a request to the userfor performing the task, the request comprising reward informationassociated with performing the task; in response to receiving anacceptance to the request from the user, displaying, to the user via aninterface, representations of the plurality of tasks, wherein theplurality of tasks comprises identifying any known potential infringersof the intellectual property asset, researching sources of informationidentifying potential infringers of the intellectual property asset,comparing the intellectual property asset with the known potentialinfringers and the potential infringers identified, and assisting inproviding an offer for licensing the intellectual property asset;receiving, at the interface from the user, an indication that at least aportion of the task has been completed by the user selected forperforming the task; responsive to receiving the indication, determiningwhether completion of the at least a portion of the task by the usersatisfies at least one condition for providing a reward to the user inexchange for completing the at least a portion of the task; andproviding instructions for disbursement of the reward to the user upondetermining that the user satisfies the at least one condition forproviding the reward.
 17. The computer readable storage device of claim16, wherein the intellectual property asset is a patent and the user isan inventor on the patent.
 18. The computer readable storage device ofclaim 16, wherein selecting the user associated with the intellectualproperty asset for performing the task of the plurality of tasksassociated with the process for managing assets comprises: accessingfirst information regarding a plurality of users that includes subjectmatter area information for each user of the plurality of users andaccessing second information regarding the intellectual property asset;performing a comparison of the second information regarding theintellectual property asset to the subject matter identificationinformation for the plurality of the users; performing a load balancinganalysis that facilitates balancing of workloads for the plurality ofthe users; and identifying the user from the plurality of the users forperforming the task of the plurality of tasks based on results of thecomparison and the load balancing analysis.
 19. The computer readablestorage device of claim 16, wherein the trigger comprises at least oneof payment of an issue fee associated with the intellectual propertyasset or payment of a maintenance fee associated with the intellectualproperty asset.
 20. The computer readable storage device of claim 16,wherein the operations further comprise determining whether the user isaffiliated with an owner of the intellectual property asset beforeproviding the instructions for disbursement of the reward to the userupon determining that the user satisfies the at least one condition forproviding the reward.